FRC – CIS football players of the week (#10): Mueller, Androschuk, Harty honoured

OTTAWA– Regina quarterback Marc Mueller, Guelph defensive back Zachary Androschuk and Calgary kick returner Jake Harty are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 3, 2012.

The selection was made by a committee comprised of members of Football Reporters of Canada (FRC).

Mueller, a fifth-year business administration student from Regina, was honoured on offence after he guided the No.7-ranked Rams to a 31-9 home win over provincial rival Saskatchewan in a Canada West semifinal, last Friday. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior completed 21 of 32 passes for 393 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, despite a snowstorm that didn’t let up until long after the contest had ended. With Regina leading 17-9, Mueller broke the game open when he connected with Kolten Solomon for a 59-yard catch-and-run major on the final play of the third quarter. The Rams (7-2) travel to Calgary (8-1) on Saturday for the Hardy Cup final, live on TSN at 4 p.m. ET (2 p.m. MT).

Saint Mary’s running back Melvin Abankwah, Sherbrooke quarterback Jérémi Roch and McMaster wide receiver Mike DiCroce were also up for the award.

Androschuk, a fourth-year biomedical science student from Sarnia, Ont., took home the weekly honour on defence thanks to his two game-changing plays in a thrilling 42-39 overtime win over Queen’s in an OUA semifinal, on Saturday. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound team captain tied the contest at 7-7 early in the second quarter when he combined with teammate John Rush to strip the ball from quarterback Billy McPhee and then picked it up before running for 26 yards all the way to the end zone. With three minutes left in regulation and the Gryphons trailing 36-28, Androschuk intercepted McPhee to set up a game-tying touchdown that would send the affair to extra time. Fifth-ranked Guelph (8-1) visits No. 1 McMaster (9-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Yates Cup final (theScore).

Saint Mary’s lineman Prince Baffoh, Sherbrooke linebacker Nicolas Boulay and Regina defensive end Ryan Wellman were also nominated.

Harty, a second-year arts student from Calgary, was the choice on special teams after he racked up 163 return yards in a 57-18 Canada West semifinal victory on Saturday, including a conference-record 110-yard touchdown off a kickoff return late in the third quarter. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound sophomore was also the game’s top receiver with 106 yards on eight catches, including a 17-yard major, giving him 269 all-purpose yards for the contest. The third-ranked Dinos (8-1) hope to capture a record-setting fifth straight Canada West title on Saturday.

Kickers Brett Lauther of Saint Mary’s and Boris Bede of Laval, as well as Guelph returner A’dre Fraser were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:

AUS: Melvin Abankwah, running back, Saint Mary’s

RSEQ: Jérémi Roch, quarterback, Sherbrooke

OUA: Mike DiCroce, wide receiver, McMaster

CWUAA: Marc Mueller, quarterback, Regina (recipient)

Defensive nominees:

AUS: Prince Baffoh, lineman, Saint Mary’s

RSEQ: Nicolas Boulay, linebacker, Sherbrooke

OUA: Zachary Androschuk, defensive back, Guelph (recipient)

CWUAA: Ryan Wellman, defensive end, Regina

Special team nominees:

AUS: Brett Lauther, kicker, Saint Mary’s

RSEQ: Boris Bede, kicker, Laval

OUA: A’dre Fraser, returner, Guelph

CWUAA: Jake Harty, returner, Calgary (recipient)

SCHEDULE WEEKS 11-13 (all times local)

November 10

13:00 AUS final (Loney Bowl): Saint Mary’s (4-5) at Acadia (7-1), Eastlink (TV & web) & AUStv.ca (web)

13:00 OUA final (Yates Cup): Guelph (8-1) at McMaster (9-0), theScore (TV & web)

13:15 RSEQ final (Dunsmore Cup): Sherbrooke (7-3) at Laval (9-1), Radio-Canada (TV & web)

14:00 CW final (Hardy Cup): Regina (7-2) at Calgary (8-1), TSN (TV)

November 17

13:00 Uteck Bowl: AUS at RSEQ, TSN & RDS

16:00 Mitchell Bowl: CW at OUA, TSN & RDS

November 23

19:30 48^th Vanier Cup: Rogers Centre, Toronto, TSN & RDS

About Football Reporters of Canada

Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league’s outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football. FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.